Our planned kerbside collection services will enable and encourage Tauranga residents to recycle more and send less waste to landfill.

Example collection service – recycling, rubbish and organic waste

Full kerbside collection service

A kerbside service that collects rubbish, mixed recycling and organic (garden and/or food) waste provides a great opportunity to maximise our residential waste diversion from landfill. It is important to remember, however, that the collection frequencies, what we’ll collect, size and types of bins, user-pays approach, etc. are still to be determined – as our planning process progresses.

Interim glass collection service

Although the full kerbside collection service will include glass recycling collections, it would not commence until 2021 due to the time it takes to set up and implement a city wide service. In the interim, we introduced a fortnightly kerbside glass collection service in October 2018 in response to Tauranga’s private collection providers ceasing to accept glass for recycling on 1 March 2018.

If no action is taken before the full kerbside service is introduced in 2021, the potential amount of residential glass going to landfill could be as much as 6,000 tonnes per year. This glass could be infinitely recycled instead.

Organic waste bin

Over 52% of the average residential rubbish bin is potentially compostable so collecting garden and/or food waste will make a huge difference to the amount of waste we send to landfill. Also, organic waste in landfill releases toxic gases and leachate so it’s better to turn it into compost for use in our gardens, and on our farms and orchards instead.

Mixed recycling bin

This bin is important for the recovery of plastics, cardboard, glass, paper etc. Currently, some people choose not to pay for a recycling bin and put their recyclables in their rubbish bag or bin. We want them to recycle instead.

Glass may need to be collected separately to increase the amount of glass that can be recycled and to reduce broken glass contaminating other recyclables and creating safety issues for the sorters.

Rubbish bin

This bin should be used as a last resort. If the waste material can’t be avoided in the first place, re-used, recycled or composted then it should go in the rubbish bin for disposal to landfill.

Estimated cost per household for full kerbside service

Please note: the following cost estimates are based on the three-bin modelled service option (report below) presented to Council. The final service option is yet to be determined, as our planning process progresses.

Bar graph showing current average cost and lower rates-funded cost

As Tauranga residents pay an average of $329 per annum (2mb pdf) for private collections, this means most residents will be paying around $80 less per year, and yet will be receiving a full collection service.

Or instead of a flat rate for all households, a combination approach of a flat rate and user-pays could be considered. This would encourage households to reduce the amount of rubbish they create and reward those who do with a lower charge.

Currently, an average three bin collection service (via private contractors) costs over $400 per annum (99kb pdf). There will naturally be a few households that may end up paying more through a rates-funded service than they currently pay. Conversely, there are residents who are currently paying a high price for a three bin service (rubbish, mixed recycling and garden waste) despite them doing the right thing.

We need to make a collective decision based on what is the right balance for the environment and the city as a whole.

Do you know how much you're currently spending for waste and recycling services?

Size of bins

This will be determined as our planning process progresses. Residents may be able to opt for different sizes from the standard size if desired. We recommend wheelie bins, rather than plastic bags, as they are easier and safer for residents and collectors to maneuver and they keep animals out and odours in.

Collection frequency

This will also be determined as our planning process progresses.

Assisted collections

Collection service options for people with physical limitations, or in circumstances where the standard kerbside service isn’t appropriate will also be determined as our planning process progresses.

Assisted collections are provided for in other NZ cities and we would provide for them in Tauranga too.

Apartments and retirement homes

Collection service options (including bin sizes) for people in multi-unit dwellings would be determined as our planning process progresses.

High density living collections are provided for in other NZ cities and we would provide for them in Tauranga too.

Other user pays rubbish bin options – e.g pay per collection

One of the many details still to be worked out, as our planning process progresses, is exactly how the service could be paid for. Instead of a flat rate for all households a combination approach of a flat rate and user-pays could be considered. This would encourage households to reduce the amount of rubbish they create and reward those who do, with a lower charge.This payment option is similar to how Council water rates are currently charged.